Sport
25 April, 2024
Big test for A reserve Magpies
With a first opportunity to show the Bendigo Football Netball League A reserve competition that the Magpies will be contenders done and dusted with a draw, the team will have another chance to muscle their way into premiership calculations when they...
With a first opportunity to show the Bendigo Football Netball League A reserve competition that the Magpies will be contenders done and dusted with a draw, the team will have another chance to muscle their way into premiership calculations when they play the grand final runner-up from 2023 in Gisborne this weekend.
While last week didn’t result in a victory, with Kangaroo Flat coming back from six goals down at three quarter time to salvage a draw, playing-coach Maggie Tranter should rightfully be pleased with the club’s performance as they have now taken a win and a draw against two 2023 finalists.
By rights, Maryborough could have said it was an unforgiving draw when it came out, with games still to come against the Bulldogs and Sandhurst, the reigning grand finalists, in their first four games.
Instead, the Magpies have risen to the challenge.
It’s been their young midcourt, led admirably by Amanda Durbridge, Millie Cassidy and Tali Chadwick, which has provided plenty of drive, while the Magpies also had a chance to unleash Ella Patten alongside Tranter last week in the defensive third. Add in Megan Kelly, who has thrived in the goal circle since her transfer from Kangaroo Flat alongside Jordan MacIlwain, and it has all the makings of a very well-rounded team.
Gisborne will still provide a litmus test for the Magpies, however, having come close to the premiership last season, falling short by 10 goals to Sandhurst.
In A grade last season, the Magpies were unable to get the better of the Bulldogs, losing by 40 goals in round 18, and 45 goals in round nine.
But with the drop in grade and the obvious levels of talent around the club, things should be a lot closer in A reserve this time around.
Elsewhere, Maryborough’s B grade and B reserve teams face tough challenges to get their first victory of the season against the Bulldogs, who performed well in their respective clashes against Sandhurst last week, while the 17 and under team will be determined to make it three wins from three starts against a Bulldogs team which lost by 30 goals last week.